Police release names of Indian Lake fire victims

Firefighters look through the scene of a fire that destroyed a mobile home and killed two people in Indian Lake Wednesday, Jan. 30.

New York State Police today released the named of the two people killed in the Jan. 30 fire at 197 Pratt Road in Indian Lake.

Both were residents of the mobile home: Anna M. Tracey, 71, and Roy J. Tracey Sr.,76. Autopsies were performed the same day as the fire at the Nathan Littauer Hospital Morgue by Dr. Jungeun Lee. Police are saying they have been “tentatively” identified; positive identification is pending further forensic examination.

“We believe it is them because they lived there, and the couple hasn’t been seen or heard from since the day of the fire,” said State Police Lt. Brent Davison, based in Ray Brook. “Because they were too badly burned to be identified, they will have to be identified by DNA tests or dental records.”

Dr. Lee ruled the immediate cause of death to be smoke inhalation due to a fire. Hamilton County Coroner Donald Townsend ruled the manner as accidental.

On the day of the fire at about 3:45 a.m., the Traceys’ son, Roy Tracey Jr., who lives across the street from their Pratt Road residence, called the fire department to report his parents’ home was on fire, according to Davison.

“He said he had seen the smoke and tried to get in but was unsuccessful,” Davison said.

At 5 a.m. Jan. 30, State Police in Indian Lake were called to assist local fire departments after the emergency personnel revealed at least one body was found inside the home.

Preliminary investigation revealed that two people were located, deceased, inside the residence. The mobile home was completely destroyed down to the floors with only a metal furnace and small portions of the walls left standing.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and the New York State Fire Cause and Origin Team are assisting in the investigation. Davison said at this time there no evidence of foul play was involved and the fire appears to be accidental.